December 12, 2013

Report Shows Labor Violations by Federal Contractors

Companies that receive federal contracts and break labor laws could face greater scrutiny from the U.S. government, if Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) gets his way.

Harkin, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday urged President Barack Obama's administration to make information on government contractors' labor law compliance more transparent, require consultations between contracting officers and the U.S. Labor Department about infractions and boost contractors' compliance with federal laws.

From 2007 to 2012, 49 government contractors racked up nearly 1,800 violations, costing them $196.4 million in penalties, according to a report Harkin released with his recommendations. In 2012, these contractors received $81 billion in contracts.